Rotary draw works having dual rotary machine drive



Julie 23, 1931.

A E. MARTOIS ROTARY DRAW WORKS HAVING DUAL ROTARY MACHINE DRIVE Filed Jan. 12'. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jnveniar O Arhur' E.Ma/"ta/Ls Attorney June 23, 1931. A. 5. MARTOIS 1 nor/m Dam woaxsmvme DUAL onn ncnmn muvs Filed Jan. 12. 1929 s sheets-sheet 2 I -36 as June 2 3, 1931. 5, MARTOIS 1,810,975

ROTARY DRAW WORKS HAVING DUAL ROTARY MACHINE DRIVE 47- Tam/[y Patented June 23, 1931 UNITED STATES ARTHUR n. MARTOIS; or LOS ANe'ELns, CALIFORNIA ROTARY nmw wonxs H'AVING- DUAL ROTARY mcnmn mmm Application filed Januaiy 12, 1929. Serial No. 332,135.

My invention relates to the well-drilling industry, and particularly to equipment for center of the derrick, a square drilling stem drilling a well according to the well-known rotary method.

In this method,-a string of drill pipe is rotated in the hole, carrying a bit at its lower end which is supplied with circulating water or mud through the drill pipe. In the standard arrangement for such drilling, the rotary machine 'is situated at or near the attached to the upper end of the drill pipe projecting through the table thereof and! being. driven thereby. The rotary machine is driven from a draw works which is situated at one side of the derrick, and which 1 not only drives the rotary machine, but also contains a hoisting drum, by means of which the drill pipe may be raised or lowered.

In the standard form of draw works, the mechanism is mounted on three upright beams anchored at their lower ends to the base of the derrick, and connected at their upper ends to a horizontal girt extending between two of the derrick legs. The hoisting drum is rotatably journalled between the first and second of these three uprights. J ournalled on the uprights above the hoisting drum is a line-shaft which haschainand-sprocket connections with the shaft of the hoisting drum whereby the hoisting drum may be operated.

The rotary table of the rotary machine has a sprocket operatively connected to it,

' this sprocket being driven-by a chain which extends around the sprocket situated on the line-shaft. The line-shaft is driven by a sprocket-and-chain connection to a suitable prime-mover. Typical arrangements of such drives are shown in the patent to Griflin, No. 1,095,157, patented April 28, 1914, and

to Chapman, N 0. 943,913, patented December 21, 1909. The rotary-table'of therotary machine in these patents is driven at a certain speed by means of the line-shaft, which is in turn driven at a certain speed by the rime mover.

When drilling through hard material it is advisable to rotate the rotary table of the rotary machine at. a slower rate of speed than when drilling through soft materials for the reason that the bit will'notcut as fast and, therefore, if rotated faster, the en gagemen't of the bit on the bottom of the hole. will resist the motion of, the parts of the drilling apparatus and cause undue strains. Furthermore, if the bit is rotated too fast in hard material, excessive friction is created which soon dulls the cutting ed es of the bit. Another time that it is advisable toslowly operate the rotary table is when a core-barrel is being operated in the well, so that the core-barrel will drill straight and so that the core will not be broken.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a drilling apparatus in which the rotary machine .may be rotated at different speeds.

l &nother object .of the invention is the pro- VlSlOIl of a well drilling apparatus of the nature s ecified, in which the speed of rotation of t e table of the rotary machine may lpequickly changed to suit drilling condi- P ions.

' A further object of the-invention is in the provision of a rotary draw works in which the 1ackmember thereof, which rotates. the rotary machine by a sprocket-and -chain connection, may be driven at a plurality of speeds.

I Another object of my invention is to provide a' draw works of the character mentioned-in which the line-shaft and the drum shaft need not be driven when the jack-member is in operation. I

A still further object of my invention is to provide a draw works of the character mentioned in 'whlch the jack-member is driven directly from the counter-shaft;

It is another object of my invention to provide a draw works in which the jackmember-which operates the rotary machine is operated by a chain-and-sprocket means connected directly to the'counter-shaft, the cha n-and-sprocket means including a. hi h- 5 speed drive and a low-speed drive which may be caused selectively to drive the jackmember by a clutch mechanism.-

It is a still further object of my invention toprovide a draw works in which the lineshaft driven by a sprocket-and-chain connection with the jack-shaft, is provided with a frictional clutch or automatic cathead which is mounted between the draw works posts.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a draw works of the character de scribed, a line shaft rovided with a sprocket-and-chain adapted to drive a tong operating)mechanism.

ther objects of my invention reside in ther details of. construction of the preferred Fi clutch Fi 6 is an elevational view comparable form which is illustrated in this application, and in the following description various other objects and advantages will be made evident.

Referring to the accompanylng drawings, in which the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing a drilling apparatus embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view taken as indicated by the arrow 2 of Fig. 1, which shows the draw works which forms a part of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an extremely diagrammatic view line 3.3

in perspective, showing the different driving connections of the invention.

cathead shown in Fig. 2. 1

to Fig. 2, partly broken away, showing an alternative means for driving a tong operatin% device. 4

ig. 7 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Fig.6.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, the numeral 11 represents a derrick which includes a foundation or base 12. The numeral 13 represents a rotary machine having a rotary table 14,

. which is rotated by means of a rotary marick, and is operatively connected to a draw works 24, as will now be described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the draw works includes a plurality of up- 'rights 30, 31, and 32, the lower ends of which are secured by suitable attachment plates 34 to the base 12, and the. upper ends of which are secured by suitable attachment means 35 to across girt 36 of the derrick. Secured to the insides 'of the uprights 31 and 32 are bearings 38 which rotatably sup- 5 is a sectional view of the friction which the cable 21 is wound. This cable 21 extends upward to the top of the derrick, not shown, and is wound on the crown block, and is then extended downward to the travelling block connected to the swivel-head 20.

Secured to the outside of the upri hts 31 and 32 are bearings 43 which rotatab y support a line-shaft 44. The line-shaft44 is arranged above the drum-shaft 39 and is parallel thereto, and the drum-shaft and line-shaft are both parallel to the shaft 16 of the rotary machine 13. Mounted on the line-shaft 44 are sprockets 46, and mounted on the drum-shaft 39 are loosesprockets 47.

Clutch mechanisms 48 are provided for drivably connecting the sprockets 47-to-the drum-shaft. Chains 49 are extended around the sprockets 46 and 47 so that when either of the clutches 48 engages its sprocket 47, the drumshaft 39 will be operated with the line-shaft 44.

The three uprights 30 to 32 inclusive have diagonal beams 50 connected thereto at 51. The lower ends of the diagonal beams 50 are spaced away from the lower. ends of the uprights 30 to 32 inclusive, and are secured by suitable means 52 to a plank or other supportin means 53. I

Secured to t e diagonal beams 50 are bearings 55 which rotatably support a counter-shaft 56. The counter-shaft 56 is mounted lower than theline-shaft 44, and in substantially the same horizontal plane as the drum-shaft 39. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the counter-shaft 56 is provided with a sprocket 57 around which a chain 58- is extended, this chain 58 being driven by a prime mover, not shown. Thecounter-shaft 56 is at all times driven at one gear ratio.

Rotatably mounted on the counter-shaft 56, near the central part thereof, is a highspeed drive sprocket 60 and a low-speed drive sprocket 61. Either of these drive sprockets 60 or 61 may be drivably connected to the counter-shaft 56 by means of a clutch element 62, which is slidable but not rotatable on the counter-shaft 56, and which may be moved by a clutch-operating mechanism generally indicated by the numeral 63. Mounted on the line-shaft 44 is a high-speed driven-sprocket 65 and a low-speed drivensprocket 66, these driven-sprockets being aligned with'the drive-sprockets 60 and 61. Connecting the sprockets 60 and 65 is a chain 67, and connecting the sprockets 61 and 66 is a chain 68. The parts 60, 65, and 67 constitute the high-speed drive-means, and the parts 61, 66, and 68 constitute the low-speed'drive-means for the line-shaft.

. Mounted on the line-shaft, between the uprights 30 and 31, is a friction clutch cat-' head, generally indicated by the numeral 80, comprising a quill 81, rigidly secured A s 001 83 is rotatably disposed on the end of t e quill 81, and is held in position by is driven at one the peripheral portion of a collar 84, keyed to the s aft 44. Formed at the inner end of the spool 83 is a clutch housing 85, having an inner conical face 86. Splined on the quill 81 is a clutch cone 87, adapted to be moved into engagement with the conical face 86 of the spool 83, by means of a yoke 88, pivoted at 89 and remotely operable by a s stem of levers from the driller s position.

twill be seen that the counter-shaft 56 ear ratio speed, and that by means of the igh-speed and low-speed connections the line-shaft is driven at two gear ratio speeds-either at a low-speedor at a high-speed.

Rotatably mounted on the counter-shaft 56 between the uprights 30 and 31 is 'a highspeed drive-sprocket, and a low-speed drive-sprocket 71. Placed on thecountershaft 56 between the drive sprockets 7 O and 71 is a clutch-element 72 which may be operated by a lever 73 to cause either the sprocket 70 or the sprocket 71 to rotate with the counter-shaft 56.

\Mounted on the inside of the uprights 30 and 31are blocks 74 which support a jackshaft 75. Rotatably supported on the jackshaft 75 between the uprights 30 and 31 is a jack-member 77. The jack-member 77 has a low-speed driven-sprocket 78 and a highspeed driven-sprocket 79 which are aligned respectively with the sprockets 71 and 70 of the counter-shaft 56. Extendin around the sprockets 70 and 79 is a drive-c ain 7 9a,-

drive-means of the invention. The rotary machine chain 22 extends around a sprocket 77a of the jack-member 77 so that the rotary machine is operated by this j ack-member.

It will be seen that by engaging the clutch element 72 with the drive-sprocket 70, the jack-member 77 will be driven at one gear ratio speed, and by engaging the clutch ele-- ment 7 2with the drive-sprocket 71, the jackmember will be driven at another-gear ratio speed. The jack-member, therefore, is driven at two speed ratios relative to the counter-shaft 56. -It is, therefore, obvious that the rotary machine will also be driven at two speed ratios, namely, a high speed and a low speed. I

The operation of my invention is as follows: When the drum is in operation, the clutch element 72 is disengaged from either of the sprockets 70 or 71. The clutch-element 62 is engaged with either the sprocket 60 or 61 in order that the line-shaft may be driven. The line-shaft is in turn connected to the drum-shaft by proper engagement of either of the clutch elements 48; It will be seen, therefore, that during the operation of the drum, the jack-member and. the rotary machine are not in operation. 1

When using the rotary machine the clutch-element 62 is disengaged from either the sprocket 60 or 61, and the line-shaft or drum-shaft is not set into operation. The

clutch-element 72 is engaged'with either of the sprockets 70 or 71, thus driving the rotary machine through the jack-member 77. When the bit 18 is drilling through a soft formation, the clutch-element 72 is caused to engage the high-speed drive-sprocket 70 with the result that the rotary table 14 is rotated at a maximum speed. When the bit is rotated in a hard formation, the clutch element 72 is caused to engage'the sprocket 71 with the result that the rotary table is rotated at its minimum speed. The slow speed or high speed may be used whenever it is thought advisable.

When it is desired toibreak a coupling in a tool joint by the use of tongs, a rope or cable attached to a tong may be placed about the cathea'd 80, which is then thrown into engagement by the driller, causing the rope to be wound about the spool 83 of the cathead 80, thus exerting a pull on the mentioned tong to unscrew the mating halves of the tool joint.

The cathead 80 is positioned on the lineshaft 44, so that the spool 83 thereof and the center of the rotary. table are aligned parallel with the rotary machine driving chain 22, thus a direct pull is obtained on the cable attached to the breaking out tong, in a direction that will minimize the strain on the draw works supports.

In an alternative formof my invention shown in Fig. 6, in which identical parts are numbered exactly as in the preferred form, I provide a sprocket 90, loosely mounted on the shaft 44, and provided with a clutch 91 remotely operated by the driller by a system of levers, not shown. A chain 92 engaging the sprocket 90 maybe used to jack-member which permits extending the chain 22 across the floor of the derrick so that it will not interfere with derrick opera- "tions; second, the rotary machine may be driven at a plurality of speed ratios; and, third, the line-shaft and drum-shaft need not be operated when the rotary machine is set into operation or vice versa. The details rights ncar said base; means mounted on said jack-member for driving a rotary machine; a counter-shaft rotatably supported in a lower plane than said line-shaft; highspeed drive-means connected to said jackmember and said counter-shaft; low-speed drive-means connected to said jack-member and said counter-shaft; means connected to said line-shaft and said counter shaft whereby one of said shafts operates the other of said shafts; and meansfor operating said counter-shaft.

2. In combination: a derrick structure having'a base; a plurality of draw works uprights secured to said base at their lower ends and to the derrick at their upper ends; a rotatable drum rotatably supported by certain of said uprights; a line-shaft mounted on certain of said uprights above said drum; drum-drive means connected to said line-shaft and said drum; a jack-member rotatably supported by certain of said uprights near said base; means mounted on said jack-member for driving a rotary machine; a counter-shaft rotatably supported in a lower plane than said lineshaft; highspeed drive-means connected to said jackmember and said counter-shaft; low-speed drive-means connected to said jack-member and said counter-shaft; engaging-means whereby either said high-speed or said lowspeed drive-means may be caused to drive said jack-member; means connected to said line-shaft and said counter-shaft whereby one of said shafts operates the other of said shafts; and means for operating said coun-. ter-shaft.

3. In combination: aderrick structure having a base; a plurality of draw works uprights secured to said base at their lower ends and to the derrick at their upper ends; a rotatable drum rotatably' supported by certain of said uprights; a line-shaft mounted on certain of 'said uprights above said drum; drum-drive meanseonnected to said line-shaft and said. drum; a jack-member rotatably supported by certain of said uprights near said base; means mounted on said jack-member for driving a rotary machine; a counter-shaft rotatably supported- 4. In com ination: a plurality of uprights; a drum-shaft supported by two of said uprights; a drum on said drum-shaft; v

a line-shaft carried by said uprights; drumshaft drive mechanism connecting said drum-shaft and said line-shaft; a countershaft carried by at least two of said uprights; means for driving said counters'haft; line-shaft drive-means connecting said line-shaft and said counter-shaft; a jack-member su ported between two of said uprights; in 0 set relationship relative to said counter-shaft; means mounted on said jack-member for driving a rotary machine; and jack-member drive-means connecting said counter-shaft and said jack-member.

'5. In combination: a plurality of uprights; a drum-shaft supported by two of said uprights; a drum on said drum-shaft; a line-shaft carried by said uprights; drumshaft drive mechanism connecting said drum-shaft and said line-shaft; a countershaft carried by at least two of said uprights; means 'for driving said countershaft; line-shaft drive-means connecting said line-shaft and said counter-shaft; a jack-member supported between two of said uprights; means mounted on said jack-mem her for driving a rotary machine; highspeed chain-and-sprocket means connecting said jack-member and said counter-shaft; low-speed chain-and-sprocket means connecting said jack-member and said countershaft; and clutch means for causing either said high-speed or said low-speed chain-andsprocket means to drive said jack-member.

6. In combination: a plurality of uprights; a drum-shaft supported by two of said uprights; a drum on said drum-shaft between two of said uprights; a line shaft carried by said uprights; drumshaft drive mechanism connecting said drum-shaft and said line-shaft; a countershaft carried by at least two of said uprights; 'means for driving said countershaft; line-shaft drive-means connecting said line-shaft and said counter-shaft; a jack-member supportedbetween two of said uprights in, offset relationship relative to said counter-shaft, said jack-member bein disposed on the opposite side of one of said uprights between which said drum is supported; means mounted on said jack-memher for driving a rotary machine; and jackmember drive-means connecting said counter-shaft and said jack-member.

7. In combination: a plurality of uprights; a drum-shaft supportedby two of said uprights; a drum on said drum-shaftbetween two of said uprights; a line-shaft carried by said uprights; drum-shaft drive mechanism connecting said drum-shaft and said line-shaft; a counter-shaft carried by at least two of said uprights; means for driving said counter-shaft: line-shaft drivemeans connecting said line-shaft and said counter-shaft; a jack-member supported between two of said uprights on the opposite side of one of said uprights between which said drum is supported; means mounted on said jack-member for driving a rotary machine; high-speed clmin-and-sprocket means connecting said jack-member and said counter-shaft; low-speed chain-and-sprocket means connecting said jack-member and said counter-shaft; and clutch ineans for causing either said high-speed or said low-speed chain-and-sprocket means to drive said jackmember.

48. In combination: a plurality of uprights; a drum-shaft supported by two of said uprights; a drum on said drum-shaft; a line-shaft carried by said uprights; drumshaft drive mechanism connecting said drumshaft and said line-shaft; a counter-shaft carried by at least two of said uprights; means for driving said counter-shaft; lineshaft drive-means connecting said line-shaft and said counter-shaft; a jackmember supported between two of said uprights in offset relationship relative to said counter shaft; means mounted on said jack-member for driving a rotary machine; jack-member drive-means connecting said counter-shaft and said jack-member; and means mounted 'on said line-shaft between two of said uprights to drive a tong operating mechanism.

9. In combination: a plurality of uprights; a drum-shaft supported by two of said uprights; a drum on said drum-shaft between two of said uprights; a line-shaft carried by said uprights; drum-shaft drive mechanism connecting said drum-shaft and said line-shaft; a counter-shaft carried by at least two of said uprights; means for driving said counter-shaft; line-shaft drivemeans connecting said line-shaft and said counter-shaft; a jack-member supported between two of said uprights in ofl set relation ship relative to said counter-shaft, said jackmember being disposed on the opposite side of one of said uprights between which said drum is supported; means mounted on said jack-member for driving a rotary machine;

jack-member drive-means connecting said counter-shaft and said jack-member; and a cham-and-sprocket means mounted on said said line-shaft; a counter-shaft carried by at least two of said uprlghts; means for ClIlV- ing said counter-shaft; line-shaft drivemeans connecting said line-shaft and said counter-shaft; a jack-member supported between two of said uprights on the opposite side of one of said uprights between which said drum is supported; means mounted on said jack-member for driving a rotary machine; high-speed chain-and-sprocket means connecting said jack-member and said counter-shaft; low-speed chain-and-sprocketmeans connecting said jack-member and said counter-shaft; clutch means for causing either said high-speed or said low-speed chain-and-sprocket means to drive said jackmember; and a chain-and-sprocket connection between said jack-member and a rotary machine for driving the latter.

11. In combination: a supporting structure adapted to be rigidly secured at one side of a derrick floor; a cable-drum rotatably supported .by said structure; a lineshaft rotatably supported by said structure; a counter-shaft rotatably supported by said structure and adapted to be driven by a prime mover; cable-drum drive-means for 9 driving said cable-drum from said lineshaft; line-shaft drive-means for driving said line-shaft from said counter-shaft; a jack-member rotatably supported by said structure in offset relationship relative to 1 driving said cable-drum from said lineshaft; line-shaft drive-means for driving said line-shaft from said countershaft; a jack-member rotatably supported by said structure -in ofiset relationship relative to said counter-shaft disposed adjacent one end of said cable-drum; means mounted on said j ack-member for driving a rotary machine; and wok-member drive-means for driving said jack-member from said counter-shaft.

13. In combination: a supporting structure adapted to be rigidly. secured at one side of a derrick floor; a cable-drum ro- 'prime mover; cable-drum drive-means for driving said cable-drum from said line'- shaft; line-shaft drive-means. for driving said line-shaft from said counter-shaft; a

jack-member rotatably supported by said structure in offset relationship relative to said counter-shaft and disposed close to said fioor; means mounted on said jack-member for driving a rotary machine; and selective speed-change means between said j ack-member and said counter-shaft for driving said jack-member at different speeds.

14. In combination: a supporting StIllCrture adapted to be rigidly secured at one side of a derrick floor; a cable-drum rotatably supported by said structure, a line shaft rotatably supported by said structure above said cable-drum; a counter-shaft rotatably supported by said structure behind said drum and adapted to, be driven by a prime mover; cable-drum drive-means for driving said cable-drum from said lineshaft; line-shaft drive-means for driving said line-shaft from said counter-shaft; a jackmember rotatably supported by said structure in front of said counter-shaft and disposed close to said floor; means mounted on said jack-member for driving a rotary machine; and selective speed-change means between said jack-member and said countershaftfor driving said jack-member at different speeds.

15. In combination: a derrick structure having'a base; a plurality of draw works uprights secured to said base at their lower ends and to the derrick at their upper ends; a rotatable drum rotatably supported by certain of said uprights; a line-shaft mounted on certain of said uprights above said drum; drum-drive means connected to said lineshaft and said drum; a counter-shaft rotatably supported, in a lower plane than said line-shaft; a ack-member rotatably mounted, near said base and in front of said counter-shaft; means mounted on said jackmember for driving a rotary machine; highspeed drive-means connected to said jackmember and said counter-shaft; low-speed drive-means connected to said jack-member and said counter-shaft; means connected to said line-shaft and said counter-shaft whereby one of said shafts operates the other-of said uprights; a drum on said drum-shaft;

, a line-shaft carried by said uprights; drumshaft drive mechanism connecting said drum-shaft and said line-shaft; a countershaft carried by at least two of said uprights; means for driving said countershaft; line-shaft drlve-means connecting said line-shaft and said counter-shaft; a ]ack-member supported adjacent said counter-shaft; means mounted .on said j ack-member, for driving a rotary machine; highspeed chain-and-sprocket means connecting sald jack-member and said counter-shaft; low-speed chain-and-sprocket means connecting said jack-member and said countershaft; and clutch means for causing either said high-speed or said low-speed chain-andsprocket means to drive said jack-member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 4th day of January, 1929.

' ARTHUR E. MARTOIS. 

